Labyrinth protective device



Dec. 20, 1938. A. BROOKE LABYRINTH PROTECTIVE DEVICE' Filed Oct. 7 14, 1937 2 She'ets-Sheet 1 awe/Mob Brooze.

Dec. 20, 1938. A. BROOKE 2,141,102

LABYRINTH PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet L2 ZIo yaZ Brodie.

Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

or more fins at right angles to each other that mesh with fins or members that are fixed, one set to the rotating part and one set to the stationary part in the horizontal or vertical planes .as may be required.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective protective device for all mechanisms where dust, water or the like should be kept out, one which can be readily manufactured at low cost, easilyapplied and one which will efiectively severe its intendedpurposes.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section on the line l-I of Figure 2.

3 Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-4 of Figure 1, Figures 1 and 2 illustrating an arrangement for medium size mountings, such as would be used on cranes,,steam shovels and small gun mounts etc.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stationary part in Figure 4 and the floating ring, the rotating parts being removed.

Figure. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 with the rotating parts in place.

4,5 Figure 5 is a cross section on the line -55 of Figure 6.

I Figurefi is a detail elevation of a portion of the invention. I

Figures 7 and-8 are detail cross sectional views 50 showing how the floating member may be made in sections.

Figure 9 shows (in sectional elevation) a possible arrangement of the floating member used in small mechanisms.

' as A practical embodiment of the invention in several forms is disclosed in the drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views as follows:

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 the base or lug i is the stationary part secured to a deck, platform, or the like, while the mount 2, rotating part, is connected to .the base i in the usual manner and rotates on the ball or roller bearing 3. To the mount 2 is secured the ring 4, which if desired may be in one or more sections as conditions require or permit, by means of screw bolts 5, or the like. This ring a has a comparatively heavy section 6 on top to protect the ring and to form a water-shed, and (preferably two) fins l which mesh with the horizontal members of the floating ring 8. The ring 8 may be, in order to assemble, in segments as conditions require, which segments may be secured to each other by any of the several methods illustrated, but which in this case is by a bolt 9 passed through the lugs It at the joints, there being a dowel H provided in the joint. The floating member 8 has a heavy outside section 52 for the protection, and has (preferably two) fins it in the horizontal plane which mesh with the ring 4. The member 8 also has two fins one the heavy section l2 and the other, at M, in the vertical plane, and in this case continuous and circular. The fins l2 and I4 mesh with the two fins 15 on the ring [6, which ring if desired may be in one or more sections, as conditions'require or permit, and secured to the base I by the screw bolt H or the like.

Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 the barbette l8.is the stationary part secured to the structure below, on ship or land, while the turret l9,-the rotating part, rotates above it and is connected to it by roller bearing (not shown) below. To the barbette I8 is secured the horizontal member 4* which in this case is inv the horizontal plane and would have to be in seg-' ments, a joint of which is show'nat '20. The member 4* is secured to the barbette ill by the screw bolts 5*. The ring 4* has fins l that mesh with the floating ring 8 which must be in several segments for assembling and handling joined by bolts 9 through lugs Ill with the joint having a dowel 1| as before but slightly difierently arranged. The floating member 8 in this case has a heavy section 2| on the inside for strength as well as the heavy section I2 on the outside and a fin l3 in the horizontalplane. It also has two ,flns l5 in the vertical plane which mesh with the ring l6 which in this case has an outside vbe made of the other.

heavy section l5 for protection, as well as the fin I4 which mesh with the floating ring 8*. The ring 56 in this case may be made in several segments if desired and secured to the turret l9 by the screw bolts l'l or the like.

Referring to Figure 5 and Figure 6 the floating ring 8 when in two or more-segments may be joined by key 22, or keys, or the like. The rings 23 and 24 may be either in the horizontal or vertical planes and secured to the rotating and stationary parts in any approved manner.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the floating rings t -8 with the vertical and horizontal members made in two parts (as well as one or both of the parts being made in two or more segments with the whole being secured by screw bolts or the like as before).

Figure 9 is a section of the floating ring 8 which could be used in sinall mechanisms where it would be possible when two or more segments are required to hold the twosegments together by means of a continuous ring 25 held in place by the machine screws 26.

The parts of the packing should be made preferably of two grades or kindsof a rust resisting metal. That is, the floating ring should be made of one material while the other two rings should The fins should mesh with a fairly easy fit and be so designed that a space 21 is left at the ends of the flns equal to not less than one half the thickness of the fins, to take all shock and vibration without putting any undue strain on the parts. The parts should be assembled with a proper lubricant and where required should be kept lubricated in any approved manner. In the type as shown by Figure 1 the clearance at the joint 28 could be comparatively large with only a low grade finish necessary. In the type as shown by Figure 3 the joint at 29 will be close and the finish accurate.

It can readily be seen from the drawings that such an arrangement will give an all metallic (preferably) joint that is very eificient, of low manufacturing cost and one that will be trouble free and last indefinitely. It will be effective against rain, dust and the wash of the sea, or the like. It can be designated in any number of forms in both the horizontal andvertical planes and for an indefinite number of uses. It is not intended to hold any of the designs to the shape or form shown on the drawings or for the use heretofore specified. The new and unique idea is the use of multiple fins at right angles to each other on a floating member operating in their respective grooves in a stationary member on the one angle and in a rotating member on the other angle, which I have called a labyrinth protective device, to form an all metal (preferably) protection for any mechanism where dust, water or the like, should be kept out, and to confine oil and grease lubricants within joints and bearing of shafts, etc.

While I have referred to the rings 8 etc. as made of metal (preferably), I. wish it understood that other suitable materials. may be used depending on the structures to be protected and the weather conditions met with by them. Under some circumstances it may be found possible to use Bakelite, vulcanized fibre for example.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought the construction, uses and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a stationary part and a rotating part cooperating therewith, of a labyrinth protective device comprising a ring fixed to one of said parts and a ring fixed to the other of said parts, and a floating and freely rotatable ring between the aforesaid rings, said rings havof said parts, and a floating and freely rotatable ring between the aforesaid rings, said fixed rings each havingat least one fln and said floating ring having fin receiving grooves into which said fins fit with close sliding contact, said grooves being of greater depths than the lengths of v the fins that lie in the grooves, the adjacent walls of said grooves and fins being parallel, and the adjacent walls contacting one another with a sliding fit, the grooves and fins between said floating ring and one of said fixed rings being radially disposed and the grooves and fins between said floating ring and the other of said fixed rings being axially disposed.

3. The combination with a stationary base and a rotatable mount rotatable on the base with interposed bearings, of a ring secured to the base and encircling the bearings, a second ring secured to the mount and encircling-the bearings, and a third ring floating and freely rotatable between the first and second rings, said rings having interfitting parts, those of the third ring cooperating respectively with those of the first and second ring to seal the joint between the base and the mount against entry of water, dust and dirt, etc., the interfltting parts of the several rings having provisions for end play.

4. As a new article a labyrinth protective device for the joints between two parts one of which rotat'eson the other, said device comprising essen tially three rings, two of said rings each having sets of fins and grooves, the fins and grooves of one of said two rings being radially disposed and the fins and grooves of the other of said two rings being axially disposed, said two rings being combined with the third of said rings, the-third of said rings beingfreely rotatable and having two sets of fins and grooves, one set cooperating with the fins and grooves of one of the said two rings and the other set cooperating with the fins and grooves of the other of said two rings to close the gap between said .two rings, said third ring being free to float between the other two rings,'said third ring being formed of segments and means being provided to secure the ends of said segments rigidly to one another with a fiuid "tight contact, said segments themselves being formed of two parts rigidly joined together at right angles.

5. Means for protecting the joints between two parts oneof which rotates on. the other, said means comprising a ring secured to each of said parts, each of said rings having fins and grooves, combined with a floating freely rotatable ring located between the other two. rings and itself having fins and grooves mating with the'fins and grooves of the first two rings, said fins and grooves each having their side walls parallel, the several side walls of the fins engaging the adjacent side rotatable floating ring located between said two parts and having fins and grooves mating with the fins and grooves of said two parts, said grooves being. deeper than those portions of the finsreceived in the grooves, said fins and grooves each having their side walls parallel, the side walls of the fins engaging the adjacent side walls of v the grooves, the fins fitting into the grooves without substantial side play and with a sliding fit.

LLOYD A. BROOKE; 

